Tackle the London to Brighton

Ride, race or rally your way to the seafront

The warmer months are approaching and London-to-Brighton season will soon be in full swing as vintage and classic cars, historical vehicles and runners alike hit the tarmac to complete this iconic route.

Popularised over the years as a route for annual races, tours, charity rides and rallies, the first London to Brighton event was the Veteran Car Run in 1927 – now one of the world's longest running and best-known motoring events.

The route between London and Brighton now plays host to annual events organised by various enthusiast clubs and charities. Scenic and varied, the route follows the A23 or alternative minor roads. It usually begins at a central point in London and continues through the suburbs of Westminster, Brixton, Croydon and Purley, before passing Gatwick Airport and meandering through The Weald and the North and South Downs.

Want to get involved, or simply fancy going along as a spectator? We’ve listed some of the most popular London to Brighton events:

Jaguar Run: this run sees around 350 cars from across the Jaguar range leave London on a leisurely ride to Madeira Drive. HCVs Run: setting off from Crystal Palace Park in south London, around 200 historical commercial vehicles, ranging from lorries, vans, buses, coaches and taxis to fire engines, steam wagons and tractors, take part in this annual run.London 2 Brighton Challenge: organised by the Hunger Project in aid of raising funds for programmes across Africa, South Asia and Latin America, this event challenges you to walk, jog or run your way from Richmond Park to Brighton.Regency Run: organised jointly by the MG Car Club and the MG Owners’ Club, the run sets off from the Brooklands Motor Museum in Weybridge. It's run by around 750 MGs dating from the 1920s to the present day.Mini Run: one of the biggest London to Brighton events, the run is organised by the London & Surrey Mini Owners Club and sees around 2,100 Minis take part.Classic & Kit Car Runs: open to kit cars and any car registered over 25 years ago, these two runs both depart from the Brooklands Motor Museum in Weybridge and take separate routes to Madeira Drive.Bike Ride: the first of three annual rides organised by the British Heart Foundation, this fundraising event sees entrants cycle the 54 miles from Clapham Common to Brighton. Night Ride: entrants raise funds for the British Heart Foundation by cycling through the night through starlit countryside to reach Madeira Drive as dawn approaches.Off-Road Bike Ride: this challenging and testing 75-mile route is almost entirely off-road and tackles cycle paths, single track and forest paths to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.Extreme Running: this gruelling 56-mile ultra-running event starts at 6am from Blackheath in London and sees participants self-navigate their way through the countryside to Brighton’s seafront.Brighton Breeze: starting out from Hook Road Arena and heading towards Madeira Drive, hundreds of VWs will take part in this fun-run event organised by the Split Screen Van Club.Land Rover Run: this well-attended event is organised by the South London and Surrey Land Rover Club and runs from Crystal Palace Park to Brighton.Veteran Car Run: this hugely popular event is a great spectacle and will see around 500 pre-1905 vehicles attempt the route from Hyde Park to Madeira Drive, in celebration of those by-gone halcyon days of motoring.